Shot in the Mouth for Nothing, Mom Says

GADSDEN, Ala. (CN) – A police officer shot to death an unarmed, immobile man as he sat on his own couch recovering from back surgery, his mother claims in Federal Court. Ann Bush, who is black, says Pell City police Officer Vincent Warrington shot her son in the mouth while serving a search warrant with other officers on Nov. 12, 2009.

The mother says her son, Barry Bush, 41, was sitting on the couch when Warrington shot him in the mouth from so close that the bullet went “directly into Mr. Bush’s mouth without damaging Mr. Bush’s lips and face.” At no time did her late son possess a weapon or threaten Warrington or any other officer, the mother says. She seeks punitive damages for wantonness, assault and battery, negligence and civil rights violations, from Warrington and from Pell City, Ala. She is represented by Alan B. Lasseter of Birmingham.